From couch surfing to living in a caravan: The grim options facing almost 1,000 people who are still homeless after the devastating Townsville floods
- Almost 1,000 people are forced to live in caravans or sleep on friend's couches
- There are no rentals left as many are damaged and there is an enormous demand
- More than 1,800 people have sought housing assistance from the Government
Almost 1,000 people are still homeless after the devastating Townsville floods nearly two months ago.
Some have been forced to stay with friends, sleeping on sofas or in spare rooms, while others are living in temporary accommodation.
Machinery salesman Trevor Abela lives in a caravan set up in his garden after his home was damaged by the devastating floods in Bluewater, a Townsville suburb.
Rental vacancies in the city are almost non-existent and 1,800 people have applied for housing assistance from the Government.
Machinery salesman Trevor Abela is one of 1,000 people displaced after the Townsville floods. He lives in a caravan set up in his garden with his loyal blue heeler Gypsy
'I think I spent six days cleaning the house out, hoping it would come up alright, which it has to a degree. But the tiles need to be lifted and so forth, so they are going to gut the house,' Mr Abela said the ABC.
Mr Abela said living in a caravan let him oversee repairs and keep his blue heeler dog Gypsy with him since most rentals do not allow pets.
'I didn't want to have my dog in a kennel for X amount of months. It could be up to four months ... it's clean out here now and I could keep my dog without putting her in a kennel,' he said.
Townsville recovers: Staff members help clean up the 'Pillowtalk' store after the floods but the struggle is not over. There are no rental properties left leaving many people homeless
Townsville's longest surviving real estate agent Wayne Nicholson said the floods were 'uncharted territory' for everyone.
'We believe between 500 and 1000 people are still displaced,' he said.
'We had outstanding numbers at viewings of 20 plus or 30 plus people.'
'At the moment we have nothing because there are no rental properties left.'
'The vacancy rate is basically zero.'
'People are staying at caravan parks, with family and friends or couch surfing.'
Rental rates were four per cent in September 2018 before the floods indicating a 'weak' rental market, according to the Real Estate Institute.
Homes and cars submerged in flood water during the floods in February. Many people are waiting for their homes to be repaired while they stay in rentals, caravans or couch surf
Mr Nicholson says 'the Government needs to step up'.
He proposed a one-off grant of $10,000 to attract property investment in Townsville.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said 'no one who has lodged a request for housing help is without accommodation'.
'A total of 1762 people affected by flooding in Townsville and surrounding areas have sought housing assistance from the department,' he said.
'There are now 31 people still waiting for a long-term housing solution.'
Vinnies Townsville Executive Officer Edwina Wagland said they are helping with hom repair costs.
'Many people we helped didn't see themselves being homeless, as they had somewhere to stay, when in fact they had lost their homes,' she said.
Damaged goods chucked out after the floods in February. The Housing Department said over 1,800 flood victims sought housing assistance and all requests had been filled
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